October Term 2015 · Docket 15-474
Does an official act require a specific government decision?
The dispute centers on whether arranging meetings counts as an official act under federal bribery law.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Dreeben asserted that the crime involved accepting value to promote research studies.
Mr. Francisco argued that the government ignores a prior Supreme Court decision.
Mr. Francisco stated that the quid pro quo requirement solves many of the government's problems.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 46-28 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 46-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the federal bribery statute. It asks if a public official commits a crime by merely arranging access to government agencies. the side that brought the case argues this conduct is not an official act. The government argues it is.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 27, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-44
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a categorical carve-out for meetings and phone calls.
The government wants the court to treat arranging research studies as an official act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that providing access to the government is not an official act.
The government argues that anything within official duties constitutes an official act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how to handle the perception that the official tried to influence others.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the outcome would change if medical faculties agreed to testing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 46-28 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 46-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-50
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between lawful advocacy and criminal bribery. It determines whether arranging meetings constitutes a specific government action. This standard affects all public officials nationwide. It shapes the legal definition of official conduct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 46-28 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 46-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-50
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.